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Winner of the
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To the Best of Our Knowledge

 


A Five Part Series from TTBOOK!

 

PRI
Public Radio International

WPR
Wisconsin Public Radio

 

 
spacer from Wisconsin Public Radio  

THE BEAUTY BIZ

Program 08-01-27-A

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The beauty biz is booming. The image conscious consumer can choose between a full-service menu of make-over options: laser facial resurfacing, liposuction, eyelid enhancing, breast implants and even a nip and tuck where the sun doesn't shine. And reality TV makes the whole process downright seductive. But why are we dying to be beautiful? In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, a look at the quest for beautiful.

SEGMENT 1:

Alex Kuczynski is a columnist for the New York Times and the author of "Beauty Junkies." She tells Jim Fleming that the plastic surgery business is growing dramatically and that in the United States, liposuction and breast augmentation are the most popular procedures.

SEGMENT 2:

J. Ruth Gendler re-tells the story of "The Mountain That Loved A Bird" by Alice McLerran and Eric Carle. Gendler is an artist and the author of "Notes on the Need for Beauty." She tells Anne Strainchamps that we need to learn to see the beauty in the world all around us. Also, Robert Leleux is the author of "The Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy." He tells Steve Paulson about growing up gay, in Texas, with his plastic surgery junkie and drama queen of a mother, whom he adores and who is accompanying him on his book tour.

SEGMENT 3:

Novelist Umberto Eco has written a book called "On Ugliness" to answer his earlier book, "On Beauty." He tells Steve Paulson that ugliness is surprisingly complex and fascinating. It's far more than the simple opposite of beauty.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 08-01-27-A.

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Books:

Umberto Eco, trans. Alastair McEwen, On Ugliness (Rizzoli)



Alex Kuczynski, Beauty Junkies: Inside Our $15 Billion Obsession With Cosmetic Surgery (Doubleday)
Robert Leleux, The Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy (St. Martin's Press)
J. Ruth Gendler, Notes on the Need for Beauty (Da Capo Press)


Music:

  • I Didn't Understand/ Christopher O'Riley/ Home to Oblivious: An Elliott Smith Tribute by Christopher O'Riley/ World Village
    Let's Get Lost/ Christopher O'Riley/ Home to Oblivious: An Elliott Smith Tribute by Christopher O'Riley/ World Village
    Victory/ Bond/Born/ Decca
    Suite III from C Major/ Matt Hamivotiz/ 6 Suites for Cello Solo by J.S. Bach/ Oxingale

Distribution dates:

week of 01/27/2008 - hour 1

Listen!

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

     


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